MAM
Nidhi Maheshwari steps up as JioStar’s brand marketing director
MUMBAI: Nidhi Maheshwari has taken a new seat at the brand strategy table, announcing her move to director of brand marketing at JioStar. It marks another leap in a career built on launches, turnarounds and campaigns that often became the story themselves.
Her latest role follows a year at JioStar, where she steered brand strategy as senior brand manager for JioHotstar. She played a central part in the platform’s launch and shaped its nationwide visibility through tightly crafted campaigns across cricket, entertainment and regional content.
Before her Jio stint, Nidhi spent nearly four years at Disney plus Hotstar as senior marketing manager for Hotstar Specials. She guided some of the platform’s biggest titles, including The Night Manager, which hit exceptional awareness marks with leaner budgets and won Promax Asia Gold and Promax India honours. She also led the hit franchise Aashiqana from concept to three successful seasons and rolled out 360 campaigns for shows like Moving in with Malaika, Shoorveer and R R Rajamouli’s Baahubali animated series.
Her marketing playbook was shaped further at Lionsgate, where she launched the Lionsgate Play OTT app in India and drove growth through original shows and 360-degree campaigns.
Nidhi’s early years were equally eclectic, cutting across Parle Agro’s fizz portfolio, Lakme’s fashion and bridal verticals, ITC and London & Partners. Whether managing Bigg Boss integrations for Appy Fizz or scaling new salon formats at Lakme, she consistently turned brand mandates into sharp, high-impact execution.
With over a decade of hands-on brand building across entertainment, beauty and FMCG, Nidhi now steps into her JioStar role with a mix of polish and pace. For the brand world, it is one more chapter in a career that seems to thrive on bold briefs and even bolder outcomes.
MAM
Ameya Velankar steps down as Uber’s head of marketing for India & South Asia
Veteran marketer exits after more than seven years with the ride-hailing giant.
MUMBAI: After more than seven years of steering Uber through the bumpy roads of India’s mobility market, Ameya Velankar has decided to change lanes. Ameya Velankar has stepped down as Head of Marketing for India and South Asia, marking the end of a significant chapter at the ride-hailing company. He had been with Uber since 2019, taking on multiple roles in product and category marketing before rising to lead the marketing function for the region in 2021.
During his tenure, Velankar played a key role in strengthening Uber’s positioning in one of its most competitive and dynamic markets. He helped drive localised marketing strategies and scale adoption across key offerings such as Auto, Moto, Rentals and Intercity, tailoring global platforms to Indian consumer needs.
Prior to joining Uber, Velankar built his marketing expertise at leading consumer companies including SC Johnson and Marico, where he handled category and product leadership roles. His career began at RPG Enterprises.
Details of his next professional move have not been disclosed.
In a fast-evolving mobility landscape where brands constantly battle for attention, Ameya Velankar helped Uber stay relevant and resonant with millions of Indian users. As he moves on from the driver’s seat of marketing, the company will now look for fresh ideas to keep its wheels turning smoothly.
